When you look at the men and women who literally transformed the face of the world’s musical landscape of the last decade, then Wizkid is at the summit of the heap. Nigerian global superstar Ayodeji Ibrahim Balogun did more than just break down doors; he opened up the floodgates for Afrobeats to reach the global top of the pops. From the Lagos streets to the most-streamed Nigerian act of all time, surpassing 3.4 billion streams on Spotify, Wizkid’s story belongs to the annals of the music fairytale.
What is distinctive in Wizkid’s story is not merely the business prosperity, but the capacity to be true to the source of Africa and yet access the whole world. While most of the artists compromise the purity of their culture for universal recognition, Wizkid has had the consistent rhythm, melodies, and narratives of home through the work he does. His fusion of Afrobeats and contemporary pop, R&B, and dancehall has most naturally given the music an unambiguously recognizable flavor of something familiar, yet evolving.
Best of Wizkid
1. Ojuelegba
2. One Dance
3. Come Closer (feat. Drake)
4. Soco
5. Joro
6. Essence (feat. Tems)
7. Kese (Dance)
Best of Wizkid
The size of Wizkid’s music extends well beyond streaming records and charting. Wizkid has become a cultural ambassador, leading the world on a tour of Nigerian music vibrancy and showing the world that African musicians do not need to conform to Westernized standards to succeed globally. His collaborations with international icons like Drake, Beyoncé, and Justin Bieber have not diluted his African-ness but have helped him build on it, opening eyes around the world to the strength of Afrobeats music to hold its own on any terrain.
1. Ojuelegba
So let us hence begin, then, with the song, which most probably transformed the entire landscape of Wizkid and Afrobeats as a whole. In 2014, as the album’s lead single, ‘Ojuelegba’ was no ordinary song; it was a personal message that went straight to the nerve of millions. The song speaks of Wizkid’s agony as a struggling artist riding through Ojuelegba, a rather busy Nigerian neighborhood, hoping to hit the jackpot.
What was unique about ‘Ojuelegba’? The sheer storytelling, plus the fact that it carried the essence of having hope in the face of overwhelming challenges. Legendury Beatz’s beats gave the best soundtrack for Wizkid’s delicate yet optimistic voice– a memorable beat. It was adopted by Drake and Skepta, who re-recorded the song, making a historic occasion in the annals of Afrobeats history.
The remix gave Wizkid international exposure (dope); it also authenticates Afrobeats as a music genre that deserves international attention. The song won Song of the Year at The Headies in 2015; the same year, this gem won an award at the Nigeria Entertainment Awards, Hottest Single of the Year. The Lagos streets were no longer a far-off reality, but rather, that shared universal experience that unified listeners worldwide. The popularity of the song opened opportunities for many other African artists to be heard internationally, respect!
2. One Dance
Although it is formally a Drake song, ‘One Dance’ needs to be mentioned as one of the most prolific tracks in Wizkid’s catalogue. Released in 2016, the featured collective introduced Afrobeats to millions of fans for the very first time, acting as a springboard for the genre’s worldwide development.
Wizkid’s contribution to the track was novel, as a vocal featuring and co-producer. His contribution had an effect on the Afrobeats origin of the track, while the vocal contribution provided it a true African flavor that made the track multi-cultural. The vocal feature of Kyla, the British singer-songwriter, added another dynamic of global crossover potential.
The joint ‘One Dance’ reached unlimited heights, topping charts globally in 15 countries, and at the time was the most streamed song ever on Spotify. For Wizkid, it was validation at a global level; proof that his sound was quality enough to interact and blend with the greatest artists, no matter the continent. Its triumph cleared the way for another thousand African acts, Afrobeats truly becoming a significant voice in global music.
3. Come Closer (feat. Drake)
After the success of ‘One Dance,’ Wizkid and Drake reunited again in 2017, on ‘Come Closer’– the effect was nothing short of magic. The song off Wizkid’s ‘Sounds from the Other Side’ album was the very definition of how it happens when Afrobeats and hip-hop meet at the height of their craft. The song won Song of the Year at the All Africa Music Awards in 2017, and Best Music Video and Viewer’s Choice at The Headies in 2018
The geniality of the track is that genres merge so seamlessly. The Afrobeats harmonious sensibilities of Wizkid seamlessly merge with Drake’s rap verses to birth something new but yet somehow old. The Sarz-beat single captures the catchy Afrobeats swagger but with hooks that are organic to Western ears. The guest verses by Drake add rather than overshadow Wizkid’s creative vision, showing how the right collaborations should be.
‘Come Closer’ was a global commercial hit, reaching the top of every platinum country and proving that Afrobeats could hold their own next to any other genre at the top tables of the globe. The song’s popularity triggered more of these cross-cultural collaborations and proved that, if executed correctly, they could dish up much more than the components at large.
4. Soco
Not all good tracks need the whole global village to work together in order to be a hit. ‘Soco’ in 2018 gave us a clear indication that local voices were capable of delivering something exceptionally unique. The Wizkid, featuring Terri, Ceeza Milli, and Spotless track gave us a glance at the extent of Nigerian vocal talents.
This track, with Northboi, was energy in all forms, beginning to end. The upbeat, flow, and hook were infectious and cannot be denied, because the chemistry among the rappers could not be denied. Each rapper brought something different, and all together they possessed a greater energy than the rappers individually.
‘Soco’ was a phenomenon, taking over radio waves, clubs, and social media everywhere in Africa and globally. The record’s success was evidence enough that African artists did not need to gain Western recognition to create global hits, just to be themselves. The influence of the song on Afrobeats’ collaborative spirit cannot be exaggerated.
5. Joro
Wizkid released ‘Joro’ in 2019, which was what everybody has come to regard as the ‘confam’ party banger. The song served as the culmination of all the things that make Afrobeats the lovable genre it is: confident vibes, catchy melodies, and irresistibly infectious energy that makes you always want to dance.
The production was immaculate; the trance-like groove really highlighted Wizkid’s lead flow. The track’s content met its theme of love, loyalty, and the joy of enjoying each moment.
‘Joro’ was bigger than just a hit; it was a buzz. The impact of the song catapulted Wizkid to king of Afrobeats status, which proves he had the ability to create an evergreen jam that can go international.
6. Essence (feat. Tems)
While ‘Ojuelegba’ might be termed Wizkid’s coming-out party on the global scene, ‘Essence’ was the commencement party. ‘Essence’ was dropped as a single in 2020 via the ‘Made in Lagos’ album, the single that at last and irretrievably sowed Afrobeats as an ever-present element of the global mainstream.
Sultry, relaxed vibes did justice to the chemistry between Wizkid and Tems. P2J and Legendury Beatz’s production added a warm, modern, and ageless touch to the atmosphere. You know what to expect with Tems’s soulful voice and Wizkid’s smooth delivery: a coolly effortless song.
What historical value ‘Essence’ held was that it charted. It was the Nigerian song to ever chart the Billboard Hot 100 and Billboard Global 200, breaking decades-old records. Its popularity boost was further heightened through a remix of the song with Justin Bieber (Made in Lagos, Deluxe Edition), which brought the Afrobeats to a wider audience. The Best Global Music Performance Grammy Award nominee was merely the icing on the cake of the already historical feat.
7. Kese (Dance)
Wizkid’s ‘Kese (Dance)’ was released in November 2024, but the singer’s creative bank never exhausts. The title song of the sixth studio album “Morayo” broke all the streaming records at release, setting Spotify’s 1.5 million streams in 24 hours, as the fastest solo African song to reach 10 million streams.
P2J-produced music is proof of the transformation of Wizkid as a singer. The song holds on to the Afrobeats roots of the singer but introduces something new that makes the song new and vibrant. The video, also a self-directed video consisting of varying scenes of a theatre set, a house party, and an art gallery, is a reflection of the same transformation of Wizkid as a video artist, too.
The immediate impact of the song is a reflection of the fact that Wizkid’s chemistry remains as strong as it always has been, paving the way for yet another breakout project.
Conclusion
These seven tracks are not only chart-tracing hits, but beacons of culture that see Afrobeats evolve from local sound to global phenomenon. Wizkid’s genius in the manner in which he’s been capable of coming up with music that cuts across all cultures but is loyal to the manner in which he began in Africa is the reason why he’s far ahead of all other musicians. Yeah– it is pretty clear that in the coming days, Wizkid’s legacy will continue to be felt for decades to come on the global music front. His success opened doors for many other African artists to show the world that creativity and talent will ultimately prevail– a real boss. With each album he drops, he continues to reinvent what it takes to be a world icon in our new generation.
